For centuries people have attempted to unlock the mysteries of the Tarot and its relationship to their lives. Until now, however, this ancient system of divination has remained an obscure "occult" pursuit.

The Mythic Tarot sweeps the medieval dust off the Tarot and brings it into the twentieth century in a form accessible to everyone. Now even the layperson can explore the secrets of the unconscious to find its bearing on his or her personal life and growth.

This package contains everything the beginning card user needs: a newly designed Tarot deck based on the Greek myths; an illustrated, 224-page book explaining how to use the cards; and a silky cloth on which to lay them out.

THE CARDS: Elegant, full color, the design of these cards is based on the Greek myths. These familiar, evocative images make it easy to remember the specific meaning and nuances of each card.

THE BOOK: Clearly and simply presented from a Western point of view, this illustrated book explains the origins of the Tarot, how the Tarot works, the meaning of each card, and how to read the cards.

THE CLOTH: Made of a silky, wrinkle-proof material and imprinted with card outlines for the Celtic Cross spread, the black cloth shows you where to lay out the cards and serves as a protective wrapping for the cards when not in use.

Used intelligently and sensitively, The Mythic Tarot will stimulate an innate curiosity about yourself as well as provide the first step toward developing intuition -- the hallmark of the regular Tarot reader.

This Workbook is intended to help Tarot students to deepen and widen their knowledge of the cards. I have had the good fortune to teach many Beginners' Workshops in Tarot which often ended with the cry: 'Now that we know what the cards mean how do we work with them?' In answer to that cry I set up Advanced Workshops. This Workbook is intended to act as a substitute for work shops. It is a sequel to The Mythic Tarot, which provided background history for all forms of Tarot cards, and outlined the basic meanings in a mythological, psychological and divinatory sense.

Although the Workbook is designed with The Mythic Tarot cards in mind, it can be used equally well with any other Tarot deck with which readers may be more familiar. The mythic pictorial imagery differs from many traditional Tarot decks but the divinatory meanings of the cards remain the same. The exercises are therefore appropriate for use with any Tarot deck. The Workbook aims to help students to structure and increase their knowledge in using the Tarot more effectively in practice. So it concentrates on the two aspects essential to all effective Tarot readings: that readers come to know themselves better via the Tarot, and that they in turn use their knowledge to help interpreting it for other people.

The Workbook comprises four parts. The first deals with the Major Arcana and concentrates on developing a richer and deeper relationship with the mysterious twenty-two Major Trumps. Guided fantasy and therapeutic colouring exercises are demonstrated in order to enable you to establish a closer relationship with the images. Particular attention is paid to the cards' uses and their value in the search for self-awareness. The second section focuses on the Court Cards and their correlation with Astrology, in particular with zodiacal sun signs through the Knight, Queen and King. The third section offers a closer understanding of the everyday meanings of the Minor Arcana, and space is provided for exercises to help fix their message clearly in the reader's understanding. The fourth section looks at various aspects of Tarot reading, layouts and use of the Tarot therapeutically; whether professionally, for friends, or for personal self-improvement.

It is important to remember that your proficiency in Tarot readings will be directly linked with the amount of effort put into study. For this reason I have devised various exercises to help you to develop a greater understanding of interpretation. Methodical performance of these exercises will produce a deeper appreciation of the breadth and depth of this fascinating subject. The exercises are structured and set out in a form that encourages you to fill in the blanks and note pages. Keeping a conscientious record of your work over weeks, months and years will develop a continuity in study, as well as charting your progress. In attempting the colouring exercises it is a good idea to record the date and your mood at the time, so that in weeks or months ahead you can look back over your notes and see how your views have changed and developed. Similarly, keeping a record of the readings you perform on the blanks provided, will act as a reminder of the outcome of your own interpretations and those made for friends or clients. I recommend that you open a file to contain photocopies of the blank spreads to facilitate this.

The style and manner of your approach to reading Tarot will naturally be unique to you. Within the generally accepted principles and symbolism of Tarot, a spread of cards is capable of interpretation in many ways, depending upon one's personal experience. I can offer an insight into my own approach to interpretation, but it will not necessarily be the same as your own. Tarot reading is a deeply personal act which can only develop with time and effort and practice.